Andrea Gambino

Rome: 1. Our private walking tour guide was extremely knowledgeable, attentive and very flexible to our wishes. She spent extra time with us and guided us back to our hotel so we wouldn't get lost. 2. Our Colosseum and Forum Liv Tours guide was also knowledgeable, attentive and funny! The most memorable point of interest was St. Peter's Basilica. The Navona Colors hotel has a great location, wonderful staff and well appointed rooms.

Bologna: Our food tour guide was sweet and, as a... read more

Rome: 1. Our private walking tour guide was extremely knowledgeable, attentive and very flexible to our wishes. She spent extra time with us and guided us back to our hotel so we wouldn't get lost. 2. Our Colosseum and Forum Liv Tours guide was also knowledgeable, attentive and funny! The most memorable point of interest was St. Peter's Basilica. The Navona Colors hotel has a great location, wonderful staff and well appointed rooms.

Bologna: Our food tour guide was sweet and, as a native, was very knowledgeable about all things Bologna. She provided us with local specialties in a uniquely local setting. She also guided us back to our hotel. Our local travel specialist, Andrea, went out of his way to procure a last minute dinner reservation on a busy Sunday night at a local's restaurant which proved to be delicious! Our hotel, The Hotel Touring, has a great location, wonderful staff, nice bar and spacious rooms.

Venice: 1. Our hidden Venice walking tour and cicchetti experience was disappointing. The guide seemed rushed and distracted and our food was unappetizing and not very special. Also, she left us quite a ways away from our hotel with vague directions on how to find our way back. 2. Our Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica tour guide was very enjoyable and knowledgeable, although we would have preferred a smaller group or private tour. The Hotel Flora was quaint and offers a beautiful courtyard and dining room. All staff was friendly, helpful and very attentive. Andrea again was immediately available to reschedule our airport transportation when our flight time was changed. Walking around the more quiet areas, getting ourselves lost and found again, marveling at the architecture and enjoying the local wines was our favorite thing to do in Venice.

Andrea was so very patient and accommodating with us from day one. In the end, we wound up with the perfect trip from the pick up at the airport in Rome to the drop off in Venice. The hotels, drivers and tour guides were all fantastic. Rome, Maria Paola took us around and showed us everything including the perfect gelato place. In Florence, Simonea was incredible and we learned so much from her. Alessandro, our driver to Pisa went out of his way to show us the most beautiful spot in... read more

Andrea was so very patient and accommodating with us from day one. In the end, we wound up with the perfect trip from the pick up at the airport in Rome to the drop off in Venice. The hotels, drivers and tour guides were all fantastic. Rome, Maria Paola took us around and showed us everything including the perfect gelato place. In Florence, Simonea was incredible and we learned so much from her. Alessandro, our driver to Pisa went out of his way to show us the most beautiful spot in Venice and even recommended a great place for dinner back near our hotel. In Venice, Enrico showed us all around Doge’s Palace and went as far as the jails. The trip was impressively perfectly planned and can’t wait to go on another.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Fellini

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Roma

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ca' Pozzo Inn

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rome Private Guided Walk

Rome

Maria Paola was our guide who was just fantastic. She was with us for 3 days. You can tell she loves what she does

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - private guide

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel skip the line ticket

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum & Roman Forum skip the line ticket

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pisa guided walk

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Jewels of Venice (St. Mark & Doge Palace)

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Met at convenient location - four people had signed up for trip, two of us showed up so we had a great
private tour! Driver was excellent - leader was fine, also - he was a seasoned photographer and gave us
important tips about cameras on cell phones - an added bonus!

Siena tour was thorough with lots of history - local woman really knows her stuff. San Giiminano very
touristy - we climbed up, had world famous ice cream and returned to van for trip to vineyard. a fair
bit of driving... read more

Met at convenient location - four people had signed up for trip, two of us showed up so we had a great
private tour! Driver was excellent - leader was fine, also - he was a seasoned photographer and gave us
important tips about cameras on cell phones - an added bonus!

Siena tour was thorough with lots of history - local woman really knows her stuff. San Giiminano very
touristy - we climbed up, had world famous ice cream and returned to van for trip to vineyard. a fair
bit of driving at rush hour.

only disappointment was the meal at the vineyard. we didn't get a tour - just a quick intro but then
sat in a lovely dining room - howere, our menu (no choices) was pedestrian at best. we watched others
enjoy beautiful offerings! wine was minimal but excellent. Thank you, Kim Kim, for remembering my
deposit and making these arrangements.

I was embarrassingly uninvolved in our trip planning to Florence and Tuscany, to the point that I was only vaguely aware of the itinerary. Andrea nailed it! He chose great accommodations that included excellent outings and guides. The 2 Tuscan countryside hotels, with their gorgeous views and superb restaurants, obviously required local knowledge to choose. Thanks so much! read more

I was embarrassingly uninvolved in our trip planning to Florence and Tuscany, to the point that I was only vaguely aware of the itinerary. Andrea nailed it! He chose great accommodations that included excellent outings and guides. The 2 Tuscan countryside hotels, with their gorgeous views and superb restaurants, obviously required local knowledge to choose. Thanks so much!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Santa Maria Novella

Florence

First time through nit the greatest room. Second time was better. Wonderful breakfasts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

1st room had 2 levels, upper level cold.

Castello La Leccia

Castellina in Chianti

Authenticity & Character

Location

Views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Relais Osteria Dell'Orcia

Castiglione d'Orcia

Great restaurant. Owner is an amazing, relaxed character. Restaurant superb.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable and personable

Transport

Wine tasting in Tuscany countryside (1 winery)

Italy

Parking difficult. A bit of a mill. Wine was good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Siena guided walk - private guide

Italy

Great experience, but could have been an hour shorter.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cheese farm visit and tasting in Pienza area

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pienza guided walk (private guide)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

“Trip of a lifetime” said one of my daughters during our amazing vacation. A good friend of ours recommended kimkim and we were blessed with having Andrea to help us plan our first trip to Italy. For the most complicated trip we have embarked on, including the first time to Italy, Andrea was exceptional. The entire process was very smooth. His recommendations on the itinerary to start us off provided a great foundation and his desire to put together a special trip for us was apparent... read more

“Trip of a lifetime” said one of my daughters during our amazing vacation. A good friend of ours recommended kimkim and we were blessed with having Andrea to help us plan our first trip to Italy. For the most complicated trip we have embarked on, including the first time to Italy, Andrea was exceptional. The entire process was very smooth. His recommendations on the itinerary to start us off provided a great foundation and his desire to put together a special trip for us was apparent from start to finish. The attention to details was comforting. The hotels he selected were perfect for us, centrally located, enabling us to explore by foot in every city. The vouchers he supplied for transfers to and from the airport, tickets for the high-speed trains and “skip the line” tickets for key venues were very helpful to have in advance. The tours he selected were perfect. His willingness to instantly respond to random questions throughout the entire trip was a huge help as we navigated Italy. The advice and recommendations he provided from beginning to end were so helpful. We are forever grateful for having Andrea as our planning partner for our “trip of a lifetime”. Thank you from all of us.

Hotel Reviews

Palazzo Veneziano

Venice

Beautiful hotel in an excellent location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco

Florence

Beautiful hotel in the heart of Florence. Very neat place with exceptional front staff.

Authenticity & Character

Really cool place.

Location

Staff

Super helpful at all times.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belvedere di San Leonino

Castellina in Chianti

Beautiful hotel in the countryside. Felt like we were in a different world.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Views were amazing. Location was very peaceful.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Albergo Del Senato

Rome

Beautiful hotel right next to the Pantheon. Location was exceptional. Staff was excellent. Rooms were very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Had a nice feel inside rooms and in lobby.

Location

Central location right across from Pantheon.

Staff

Everyone was always genuinely helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wine tasting in Tuscany countryside with lunch (1 winery)

Italy

What a way to start our time in the Tuscan countryside. Location and views were amazing. Food and wine were top notch and the staff/family were all very nice and welcoming.

Hidden Venice and cicchetti experience

Venice

Great way to learn about the nooks and crannies of Venice.

Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery

Florence

Great way to explore Florence by foot. Really loved the city. Our guide was great.

Rome Private Guided Walk

Rome

Great way to explore Rome. Our guide was very knowledgeable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - private guide

Rome

The Jewels of Venice (St. Mark & Doge Palace)

Venice

Truly enjoyed everything we saw. Three hours was a bit intense.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide

Rome

I am satisfied and appreciate all that Kimkim put together for our trip.My experience of the guides is they expressed interesting and quality knowledge of the places we visited. They appeared enthusiastic and connected to our group.
The drivers were great, helpful and friendly including personal stories of the places we were traveling through.
The hotels we stayed were responsive accommodating our needs. Thank you read more

I am satisfied and appreciate all that Kimkim put together for our trip.My experience of the guides is they expressed interesting and quality knowledge of the places we visited. They appeared enthusiastic and connected to our group.
The drivers were great, helpful and friendly including personal stories of the places we were traveling through.
The hotels we stayed were responsive accommodating our needs. Thank you

Hotel Reviews

Ca' Pozzo Inn

Venice

The hotel was clean, good beds with helpful employees.We just had over night there.

Authenticity & Character

The ease to water taxi and restaurant.

Location

There was a restaurant close by that was excellent with a great fun loving staff.

Staff

Friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds

Hotel Raffaello

Roma

The hotel staff were helpful.Send me to day spa connected to a hotel so I was able to have massage, soak and do water aerobics in a pool then ate delicious meal at the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Needed a more modern upgrade on the interior.

Location

Staff

Hotel Amalfi

Amalfi

The hotel was cozy with nice view from rooftop breakfast place. They were helpful accommodating our needs.

Authenticity & Character

Cozy nice and view.

Location

Room comfort with porch to sit out.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hidden Venice and cicchetti experience

Venice

The guide was friendly, enthusiastic and made the history interesting. I loved the cicchetti and wine at the place he took up. It was so special, so delicious. I would have loved to go there everyday to hang out.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our entire experience with KimKim Travel was excellent from start to finish. Our local specialist Andrea was amazing. He was responsive to all our questions, proactive with his communication and patient with all our changes. He also went out of his way to help us with one of our group members who had some issues walking. His instructions and suggestions made each day an adventure.

We had a minor hiccup upon arrival that Andrea immediately fixed. We started our trip in Venice at the hotel... read more

Our entire experience with KimKim Travel was excellent from start to finish. Our local specialist Andrea was amazing. He was responsive to all our questions, proactive with his communication and patient with all our changes. He also went out of his way to help us with one of our group members who had some issues walking. His instructions and suggestions made each day an adventure.

We had a minor hiccup upon arrival that Andrea immediately fixed. We started our trip in Venice at the hotel Gardena. Peter, the concierge was so friendly and helpful. Our first guide was Giovanni who took us on a cicchetti tour of the city. We got to learn some local history, like the Jewish Ghetto, and to taste some local foods and wine. He brought us to a local restaurant for a dinner of pasta and seafood.

The next day we visited Murano and Burano on our own and then met Enrique at the Doge Palace and St. Mark Basilica. His passion for the history of the area and understanding of Venice made the day incredibly enjoyable. Enrique helped us find a good spot for a gondola ride and another local restaurant for dinner.

After a train ride to Rome, we checked into the Hotel Raffaello which is centrally located and convenient to everything. We met our guide Maria Paula who took us on a tour of the city highlights including the Imperial Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. She share granitas with us and helped us find a great spot for wine and appetizers.

The next day Colosseum and Roman Forum. Maria Paula is so well educated in the local history and made the day a so enjoyable and fascinating for us. She was responsive to all our requests and questions. We ended our day visiting the Jewish Ghetto and enjoying wine and food.

Our last day in Rome with Maria Paula was a visit to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. She met us at the Vatican Cafe where we had an unbelievable lunch before starting our tour. Maria Paula was so helpful to our companion who could not walk well and took her through some guide only paths to easily visit what she was able. Words cannot describe the majesty of the Vatican and Chapel. Maria Paula made it an experience we will never forget.

The next day our driver Enzo took us to Pompeii. Enzo was so gracious to our injured friend who could not tour with us. Our guide Antonio is from a family of guides and was so excited to give us a 3 hour tour of Pompeii and show us the off the main path areas and explain the unbelievable history of this historic location. Enzo then took us for the best pizza we had ever eaten before dropping us at the Amalfi coast and Hotel Amalfi. The hotel was located in the center of town.

Amalfi is a truly colorful and unique area of Italy and we highly recommend a visit. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and we had to cancel our trip to Capri. Andrea called us about the cancellation and helped us fill our day with other highlights of the area.

Ginaro then drove us to the Naples train station and then Valerio met us in Rome to take us to our yoga retreat in Tuscany. Both drivers shared information on local sites with us and were very helpful.

The next 6 days were a yoga retreat we planned on our own in Tuscany. I will say the area is worth the visit.

Our driver Luca picked us up in Tuscany to take us to Florence. Luca was such an positive, friendly personality. He pointed out all the highlights on our drive, stopped in the town where he went to school for a bathroom break and gave us a quick tour before handing us off to our guide Simona in Florence.

We only had a few hours in Florence and Simona filled them with history, art and fun. She took us to see the David, the Ponte Vecchio and recommended restaurants and her favorite gelato place.

Everyone we interacted with exceeded our expectations. They were all helpful, well educated, informative, respectful and fun. We would happily visit with any of them again and would recommend KimKim to plan your travel. We will use them again for our next trip.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Raffaello

Roma

Centrally located, safe. clean neighborhood. Helpful staff. Clean rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Nice rooms

Location

Near the sites and good restaurants.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Amalfi

Amalfi

Very nice hotel in the center of town. Back way in is easier to access than off the main road. Clean and comfortable rooms, centrally located, helpful staff, great breakfast room.

Authenticity & Character

Nice design with beautiful balconies

Location

Close to everything

Staff

Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hidden Venice and cicchetti experience

Venice

A unique introduction to the city locations and the food. So much history to learn. All the cichetti locations were friendly and welcoming.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Giovanni was so friendly and fun, really helping us enjoy the experience

Transport

Walking through Venice is easy and the best way to see the city.

St. Peter's Tomb, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter Basilica - private guide

Rome

Words cannot describe the beauty of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Maria Paula is so well informed and a fun guide to spend time with.

We enjoyed touring Rome with Maria. She was very knowledgeable and interesting as she explained the history and pertinent details of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vittoriano Monument, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Vatican. The Hotel Raffaello was a beautiful and quiet hotel that was centrally located in a safe neighborhood. We enjoyed the breakfasts at the hotel and were treated well by the hotel staff. Our rooms were clean, spacious, and comfortable. The small shower was the only... read more

We enjoyed touring Rome with Maria. She was very knowledgeable and interesting as she explained the history and pertinent details of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vittoriano Monument, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Vatican. The Hotel Raffaello was a beautiful and quiet hotel that was centrally located in a safe neighborhood. We enjoyed the breakfasts at the hotel and were treated well by the hotel staff. Our rooms were clean, spacious, and comfortable. The small shower was the only challenge we encountered.
We loved our trip to the Amalfi Coast. Luigi picked us up at the Naples Train Station to drive us to Amalfi, and he is a safe driver who is kind and easy to talk to. On the way, we stopped at Pompeii for a tour with Antonio. We enjoyed him very much. He explained everything so well, but was also hilarious in doing so with lots of laughs and jokes throughout.
We arrived at La Bussola hotel in Amalfi and loved our stay here with a beautiful view of the coastline and harbor. We loved our boat trip to the island of Capri and had a wonderful captain who informed us of the various landmarks along the coast and would drive the boat up into caves and grottos so we could get a better look. The island of Capri is beautiful and our only complaint is the lines were so long with people waiting on cabs, buses, or tram tickets to get to the city center. It seemed like everyone had arrived at the island at the same time, and the accommodations for transportation were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people. We ended up just renting some beach chairs and enjoying the sea because it was such a hot day, instead of traveling to the city center. If we come back and it's possible, we'd like to have our tickets to the tram ahead of time so we don't spend hours waiting in line on the island.
Our free day on the Amalfi coast was spent enjoying the beach. We rented chairs with umbrellas and enjoyed cooling off in the water and skipping rocks.
Thank goodness for Andrea! There was a train strike on the day we were supposed to travel from Naples to Rome, and then Florence. Andrea arranged for our driver, Fabio, to pick us up at our hotel and then drive us to Rome to drop off our sons, who were flying home the next day. Fabio then drove us to Florence. He was a safe driver who did so well managing the steep and curving road leaving Amalfi, even though the roads were slippery and wet. We were really grateful that he drove us all that way, knowing he had had a long day starting from and returning to Naples.
Florence was beautiful, and we were grateful our guide, Lucia, was able to get us in to see the David sculpture at the Academia Gallery. There was some question that this might not be possible due to the strike. We walked around Florence, and she did a great job of detailing the history and landmarks of this marvelous city. The next day we rented a car and drove to Pisa and throughout the Tuscan region to see the beautiful countryside. Driving outside of Florence was easy, but it was a little nerve wracking trying to leave Florence and avoid the no-auto zones. We hope we did it right, and dont' receive a surprise ticket sometime in the future.
We took the train to Venice the next day and met our guide Natasha for our behind-the-scenes Venice tour and Cinchetti. We enjoyed this walking tour so much and Natasha was a fantastic guide teaching us about the history and interesting landmarks of Venice. We, especially loved St. Mark's Square and the view from the bell tower. The next day we cooked with Gioia in her private apartment, and made homemade Tiramisu and pasta with tomato/bell pepper sauce. It was delicious, and we enjoyed talking with Gioia and learning more about Venice and Italian culture. We took a gondola ride later in the day, and then rode the water ferry to tour Venice.
We returned to Rome by train the next day, and took a walking tour to see the famous sites once again. This time, we took the lift on the Vittoriano Monument to see the city from above. Well worth it, even though we climbed many, many steps.
Our driver picked us up the next day and took us to the airport, and we headed back to Texas.
Andrea did a wonderful job in planning our trip. He picked wonderful hotels and we really enjoyed our personal guides. We were so grateful for his personal attention before and during our trip, letting us know when schedules were altered, and arranging a car with driver for us when we couldn't use the train. Italy is a beautiful country with so much to see and do. We look forward to returning soon!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Raffaello

Roma

We enjoyed our stay at this lovely and conveniently located hotel. Our only criticism is the very small shower. The ladies that served and worked the breakfast buffet were so exceptional. They kept everything neat, tidy, and well-supplied, and were so kind and helpful each morning.

Authenticity & Character

The decor seemed appropriate for the age and period of the building.

Location

We enjoyed that we were in walking distance to many great restaurants and sites.

Staff

Very helpful at the desk and with the breakfast buffet.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our rooms were nice and cool with comfortable beds.

Hotel La Bussola

Amalfi

We loved the breakfast buffet with so many wonderful choices. The upstairs bar area was so comfortable and inviting. Our balcony view was spectacular.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We loved the view of the coastline and harbor and were in easy walking distance to the shops and restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our rooms were clean, comfortable, and spacious.

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ca' Pozzo Inn

Venice

We loved our quiet hotel in a good central location.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and neat room with plenty of space.

Location

Staff

Very kind and helpful staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rome Private Guided Walk

Rome

So much detailed history. Maria was kind, professional, and thorough in her explanations.

Quality of Experience

Loved the history and beautiful architecture.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seeing so many sights

Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide

Rome

Loved the amazing history of this area!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - private guide

Rome

We loved seeing this amazing city and country! What a beautiful and holy area! The amazing artwork and architecture were exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Wonderful tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great job Maria on educating us about the Vatican!

Transport

We took a cab, and our driver was aggressive. We arrived safely after a thrilling ride!

Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide

Italy

We loved Pompeii. Amazing archeaological site! Antonio was fun and humorous as he educated us in Pompeii's history, archaeology and culture.

Quality of Experience

So cool to see this amazing city preserved throughout the centuries by volcanic ash.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved Antonio's sense of humor and instruction method. He does a great job!

Transport

Luigi was a kind and safe driver. Enjoyed talking to him and learning more about Italy!

Day trip to Capri Island from The Amalfi Coast - small group

Italy

This was our favorite day because we loved being on the water and the coastline is so beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Loved the water, coastline, and island. Got to see the coast up close with our captain driving the boat into some caves.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He pointed out local landmarks and drove the boat to interesting points along the coast and island.

Transport

Loved the boat ride - safe and relaxing

Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery

Florence

Florence is beautiful with so many wonderful sites to see! Most things were in easy walking distance.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lucia was easy to listen to and so informative! Great job!

Transport

Hidden Venice and cicchetti experience

Venice

Loved seeing areas of Venice that were less familiar.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Natasha was great! Very informative and interesting.

Cooking Class

Italy

Loved getting to see a local's apartment and visiting with Gioia as we cooked.

Quality of Experience

Loved getting to make Tiramisu and homemade pasta!

Food

Delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gioia is very knowledgeable and kind. Her home is lovely, and our lunch was delicious.

Three tour guides were great. Drive through rural Italy was outstanding, Valle d'Italia. Matera very interesting as was Alberabello. Lecce was not as interesting. Old Town in Bari was very interesting as was Polignano aMere
. read more

Three tour guides were great. Drive through rural Italy was outstanding, Valle d'Italia. Matera very interesting as was Alberabello. Lecce was not as interesting. Old Town in Bari was very interesting as was Polignano aMere
.

Hotel Reviews

Ai Terrazzini

Matera

This booking was changed to La Dodici Lune. Very nice. Would recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Once at location very nice.

Casale Ramunno

Ostuni

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

..

B&B Palazzo Bernardini Suite

Lecce

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

..

Hotel Zodiacus

Bari

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

..

Activity Reviews

Matera Guided Walk

Italy

Guide terrific

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

.

Alberobello self-guided exploration

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lecce guided walk

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

.

Bari guided walk

Italy

Quality of Experience

⁹

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip to Italy was AMAZZZING! Thanks to Andrea's help, it was flawless. I will always recommend and use KimKim when I plan international trips. Every detail from hotel choices, train schedules, car pickups and the selection of tours were impeccable. Andrea checked in with us multiple times throughout our trip and it was comforting knowing that Andrea was a phone call away if we had any issues. Andrea is extremely professional as was the entire Kim Kim crew. I could not be happier... read more

Our trip to Italy was AMAZZZING! Thanks to Andrea's help, it was flawless. I will always recommend and use KimKim when I plan international trips. Every detail from hotel choices, train schedules, car pickups and the selection of tours were impeccable. Andrea checked in with us multiple times throughout our trip and it was comforting knowing that Andrea was a phone call away if we had any issues. Andrea is extremely professional as was the entire Kim Kim crew. I could not be happier with our trip and Andrea's recommendations at every level. Thanks for helping our family plan the trip of a lifetime! You are aweome!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel L'Orologio

Authenticity & Character

Location

beautiful views of the Grand Canal

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Palazzo Murat

Positano

The setting is beautiful and I loved the view of the Mediterranean from the pool. The entire staff was very helpful and Rosita was amazing! So lovely and warm!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Degli Artisti

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Jewels of Venice (St. Mark & Doge Palace)

Venice

Cicchetti guided experience

Venice

Giovanni was lovely

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery

Florence

She as an excellent guide and very knowledgeable and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Uffizi Gallery Guided Visit (private guide)

Florence

She was a very knowledge and interesting guide with a vast knowledge of the art history. Enjoyed the tour a lot

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Capri Island from The Amalfi Coast - small group

Italy

In retrospect, I would have preferred to have rented a more luxurious faster boat. The captain was excellent, but the boat was not very comfortable. It was a long ride, over an hour and a half, and the seats were not very comfortable. I had a better experience in Nice renting a faster and more comfortable boat. We did enjoy swimming in the grottos, but I should have selected a more comfortable boat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

St. Peter's Tomb, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter Basilica - private guide

Rome

She was an excellent guide with tremendous knowledge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful time on our Italian vacation and we would like to thank Andrea for all his help to organize this trip. It gave us comfort knowing that if a problem arose we could rely on Andrea to handle it. When unforeseen situations did pop up and caused our train to be late, he adjusted our schedule with our driver and tour guide and kept us on track.
The location of the hotels he chose made it easy for us to enjoy each location. In Rome, the Albergo del Senato room overlooking the... read more

We had a wonderful time on our Italian vacation and we would like to thank Andrea for all his help to organize this trip. It gave us comfort knowing that if a problem arose we could rely on Andrea to handle it. When unforeseen situations did pop up and caused our train to be late, he adjusted our schedule with our driver and tour guide and kept us on track.
The location of the hotels he chose made it easy for us to enjoy each location. In Rome, the Albergo del Senato room overlooking the Pantheon was more than we expected and was such a treat after a long day of travel. The location of our hotel in Amalfi was close to everything and very scenic overlooking the sea.
All the tour guides were gracious and knowledgeable and we enjoyed every one of them. We especially enjoyed our tour with Georgio in Bari.
Please consider Andrea if you are planning your dream vacation in Italy as we can assure you it will be spectacular!
This was a once in a lifetime trip for us and he made it more than we ever expected.
George & Susan Terlizzi

Hotel Review

Albergo Del Senato

Rome

The hotel is on the Piazza della Rotonda with amazing views of the Pantheon. It is situated in a historic building but with all the modern convivences. They have a full breakfast and a roof top patio/bar. It is close to all the major sites.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Bari guided walk

Italy

Our guide Georgio was a joy to tour with. He seemed to know everyone and you could see he really enjoyed showing us Old Town Bari. It was the most enjoyable tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We could not have been more pleased with Andrea. So grateful KimKim connect us to him as our trip to Italy was a thousand times more fun, interesting, rewarding, beautiful and relaxing than had we tried to do it ourselves or had used a travel agent or tour operator from the U.S. Andrea was wonderfully communitive, a great listener, and designed the perfect trip for our family based on our conversations. Andrea pointed us to all the places we wanted to be - including parts of Italy we had... read more

We could not have been more pleased with Andrea. So grateful KimKim connect us to him as our trip to Italy was a thousand times more fun, interesting, rewarding, beautiful and relaxing than had we tried to do it ourselves or had used a travel agent or tour operator from the U.S. Andrea was wonderfully communitive, a great listener, and designed the perfect trip for our family based on our conversations. Andrea pointed us to all the places we wanted to be - including parts of Italy we had never heard of, but have become our favorites. On the ground, the tour guides were lovely, transfers perfectly execute, and the restaurant recommendations alone were worth the cost of our trip. While we were in Italy, Andrea was always a text away to answer questions and he graciously scrambled to help with a last minute request. My only regret from our trip is that we didn't get to meet and thank Andrea in person.

Everything was very well planned for us. We did a lot in a small amount of time. We enjoyed the different locations each one having a different vibe and things to offer. The guides were very good, Maria- Paula in Rome, Santi at the Vatican, Simona in Florence, Antonio in Pompeii. Each guide was different in their approach and added to the experience. All the private transfers were very good and relaxing and the drivers were very skilled. Thanks to Andrea for a great itinerary. We especially... read more

Everything was very well planned for us. We did a lot in a small amount of time. We enjoyed the different locations each one having a different vibe and things to offer. The guides were very good, Maria- Paula in Rome, Santi at the Vatican, Simona in Florence, Antonio in Pompeii. Each guide was different in their approach and added to the experience. All the private transfers were very good and relaxing and the drivers were very skilled. Thanks to Andrea for a great itinerary. We especially enjoyed the hospitality of Manuela at the hotel Villa Della Palme, she really looked after us. We would definitely recommend KimKim to friends and family.

Words cannot express how grateful we are to Andrea for planning this wonderful trip for my husband & I. We had been talking about going to Italy for years. Andrea planned everything that I asked for. All of the tours that he planned for us were first class. The tour guides were so knowledgeable and we learned so much. The private cars that Andrea provided for us were all luxury cars and the drivers were are very helpful and gave us useful tips. The hotels were very nice and one even... read more

Words cannot express how grateful we are to Andrea for planning this wonderful trip for my husband & I. We had been talking about going to Italy for years. Andrea planned everything that I asked for. All of the tours that he planned for us were first class. The tour guides were so knowledgeable and we learned so much. The private cars that Andrea provided for us were all luxury cars and the drivers were are very helpful and gave us useful tips. The hotels were very nice and one even gave us a free upgrade. I think the best thing about Andrea was that he was available by text during the trip. He responded immediately if I had a question or was confused about something. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Andrea for making our dream Italy trip come true!

Andrea at KimKim was wonderful to work with in planning and during the trip. I appreciated how quickly he responded to my text questions.
The hotels chosen were perfect for us all with very accommodating staff: Porto Roco in Monterossa, the Belvedere in the beautiful Tuscan countryside, and the perfect location of the Pendini in Florence.
Our one suggestion would be to advise travelers in Cinque Terre who aren’t familiar with train travel, to just hop on the train when it stops and not... read more

Andrea at KimKim was wonderful to work with in planning and during the trip. I appreciated how quickly he responded to my text questions.
The hotels chosen were perfect for us all with very accommodating staff: Porto Roco in Monterossa, the Belvedere in the beautiful Tuscan countryside, and the perfect location of the Pendini in Florence.
Our one suggestion would be to advise travelers in Cinque Terre who aren’t familiar with train travel, to just hop on the train when it stops and not worry about the “assigned seat” listed on the ticket. Trying to get through the crowd to our assigned car, we missed the train. The train stops for a very short time!!
I highly recommend KimKim. Andrea planned a wonderful vacation for us. Thank you!

Our 12-day mother/daughter trip to Italy in May was AMAZING and it was all because of Andrea, our travel specialist from kimkim! We went to Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Castellina in Chianti and Amalfi! Andrea listened to what we wanted and planned everything down to the last detail perfectly! From a laid-back walking tour in Rome to a fantastic cooking class and lunch on an organic farm/winery in Tuscany - it was like he read our minds! The hotels he chose were perfect for us and it was... read more

Our 12-day mother/daughter trip to Italy in May was AMAZING and it was all because of Andrea, our travel specialist from kimkim! We went to Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Castellina in Chianti and Amalfi! Andrea listened to what we wanted and planned everything down to the last detail perfectly! From a laid-back walking tour in Rome to a fantastic cooking class and lunch on an organic farm/winery in Tuscany - it was like he read our minds! The hotels he chose were perfect for us and it was so great to have all the days planned out, the private cars arranged, and the train tickets purchased in advance! I never would have been able to plan that all myself! He went above and beyond and even called me as we arrived in Italy to make sure we found our driver at the airport and gave me restaurant recommendations throughout the trip! It was so personalized - we couldn't have had a better experience! I highly recommend kimkim (and Andrea!) to anyone looking for a great travel experience!

Andrea was so helpful every step of the way. He planned what was truly a dream vacation for us. He took the time to understand the type of trip we were looking for and gave us great tips along the way. When our train travel was disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances he responded quickly and helped us find an alternate way to our next stop, and since our travel delay resulted in us missing one of our planned activities he came up with alternatives for us. Nothing can replace a local’s... read more

Andrea was so helpful every step of the way. He planned what was truly a dream vacation for us. He took the time to understand the type of trip we were looking for and gave us great tips along the way. When our train travel was disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances he responded quickly and helped us find an alternate way to our next stop, and since our travel delay resulted in us missing one of our planned activities he came up with alternatives for us. Nothing can replace a local’s knowledge and wisdom and I highly recommend trusting Andrea with your trip if you’re coming to Italy!

My wife, Paula, and I knew we wanted to go to Italy for our first big post-Covid trip but had no idea where to begin. A Google search led us to kimkim, which led us to Andrea. I can't imagine planning this trip any other way. Andrea was so helpful in taking the time to get to know us and figure out what we would enjoy. He had answers to all of our questions and put together an itinerary that we were really excited for. Every detail was taken care of - hotels, train tickets, tour vouchers,... read more

My wife, Paula, and I knew we wanted to go to Italy for our first big post-Covid trip but had no idea where to begin. A Google search led us to kimkim, which led us to Andrea. I can't imagine planning this trip any other way. Andrea was so helpful in taking the time to get to know us and figure out what we would enjoy. He had answers to all of our questions and put together an itinerary that we were really excited for. Every detail was taken care of - hotels, train tickets, tour vouchers, private transfers - all of which were delivered to us in a beautiful PDF document that became our bible. The only thing we had to do was take care of the plane tickets and show up.

Not only was everything planned for us, but we received some much needed help on our trip in real time. Ready to take the train from Cinque Terre to Venice, we arrived to the train station to a fire and all trains were delayed. With a tour of Venice waiting for us upon arrival, Andrea put together a plan B and C in no less than 15 minutes to get us where we needed to go. The trains started running again in due time but we would have been clueless if we needed to figure something out on our own.

We had the trip of a lifetime thanks to kimkim and Andrea. We will definitely come back to kimkim for our next trip.

Great communication throughout. Cosmic and effective planning with the mainstay of our trip coordinator at my end (my partner), although I was kept in the loop all along. KimKim appeared to have access to a a troupe of excellent drivers with great quality luxury vehicles - this appeared more impressive at the beginning of our journey however. Would not hesitate to use these guys again or recommend to others. read more

Great communication throughout. Cosmic and effective planning with the mainstay of our trip coordinator at my end (my partner), although I was kept in the loop all along. KimKim appeared to have access to a a troupe of excellent drivers with great quality luxury vehicles - this appeared more impressive at the beginning of our journey however. Would not hesitate to use these guys again or recommend to others.

Hotel Reviews

Aquadulci Hotel

Domus de Maria

Amazing hotel, great service from staff. An ideal location to recharge oneself. Simple, clean and modern, room. Pristine pool and lovely beach nearby. Access to a vehicle a must if one wishes to explore all the delights this wonderful island no doubt holds.

Tips for future travelers

Expect families and couples and a quiet experience. Check with the hotel no large groups are staying during your tenure.

Authenticity & Character

Approach and passion of staff in taking a genuine passion fir caring for guests.

Location

Beach vicinity and locals using the beach also.

Staff

There enthusiasm, attentiveness and patience when dealing with guests.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Modern, clean room. Great shower and maid service. Clean well laid out infinity pool. Modern restaurant.

Corso Boutique Luxury Rooms

Rome

Amazing designed rooms. Opulent design, ideal for a couples getaway.

Tips for future travelers

Expect an unconventional hotel experience in the heart of an old building in an ancient city.

Authenticity & Character

Fixtures and fittings would benefit from higher quality, approach perhaps.

Location

Central location to many if Rome’s attractions.

Staff

Assistance with restaurant booking. Communication, openness, enthusiasm to please and seemingly go the extra mile.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, glamorous spaces. Comfortable, large bed. Access to power sockets could be improved.

Hotel Colle Etrusco Salivolpi

Castellina in Chianti

Iff the beaten track in the Tuscany region. Authentic, old, comfortable cottage or traditional style hideaway.

Tips for future travelers

The location of our room was above the breakfast garden which could be noisey for later risers.

Authenticity & Character

Authentic building. Do not come here for a luxury high end experience, rather, visit to experience the region and rest, feed, relax more like a local might.

Location

Its in Tuscany! And the village nearby for those without car access

Staff

Friendly and welcoming. Some more attention to check out details would have been helpful in our own visit, but this was a reflection of warm and friendly attitude, not ineptitude.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice hotel. But our particularly room was located in earshot to breakfast garden area which was a minor irritation.

Podere Brizio

Montalcino

Fantastic vista over the Tuscan vineyard from the external fine dining area. Wonderful food. Very helpful staff. Spa on site. A retreat of sorts.

Tips for future travelers

Call ahead if you expect to be checking in late in order that a meal might be arranged. Alternatively eat prior to arrival. Meal times here are relatively restricted, but the food is ih so worth it.

Authenticity & Character

Staff attitude and helpfulness. Character of the property, history of the property and of our room therein.

Location

The view. Access to Tuscan villages so long as one has a vehicle or driver. Stunning vista over this establishments vineyard.

Staff

Went the extra mile to ensure we could fain access to food outside of mealtimes.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Character of our room

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco

Florence

Ideal location from which to explore Florence. Not too far from central transport links for those coming out of the region and or the airport etc.

Activity Review

Explore Rome Riding a Vespa - with driver

Rome

Take in all the sights of Rome in an amazing journey in an exciting yet safe, unconventional manner. You and your partner might feel like a star as you are whisked around the City at the hands of a humorous, knowledgeable, local.

Quality of Experience

Amount of sights taken in. Integration with the buzzing City. Opportunity to take photos. Live commentary and safety of the ride.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sense of humour, authenticity, knowledge.

Transport

New, bright and vivid vespa. Stole the show on the streets.

Ciao Andrea,
Stephen and I would like to thank you so very much for all that you did in, not only the planning, but also all the amazing support and attention you provided during our trip!! We had the most wonderful and memorable time in Italy!!
We especially loved the walking tour in Florence with Florinda and in Siena with Alessia. They were both so knowledgeable, passionate and attentive. And Luca in Rome, the vesper tour was the best!!
The winery in Chianti was so beautiful!!
Also,... read more

Ciao Andrea,
Stephen and I would like to thank you so very much for all that you did in, not only the planning, but also all the amazing support and attention you provided during our trip!! We had the most wonderful and memorable time in Italy!!
We especially loved the walking tour in Florence with Florinda and in Siena with Alessia. They were both so knowledgeable, passionate and attentive. And Luca in Rome, the vesper tour was the best!!
The winery in Chianti was so beautiful!!
Also, all the transfers and hotel bookings were spot on!
Thank you thank you thank you!!
Gracie mielle!!
Stephen and Sara

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco

Florence

Lovely hotel in a central location. The room was great, quite spacious and very comfortable. The stairs from level 4 to 5 were a challenge with our luggage, but we managed. Otherwise all good. The staff were lovely.

Tips for future travelers

It’s in a pedestrianised area, so getting a taxi to take you to the front door is challenging.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Podere Brizio

Montalcino

This hotel is gorgeous and just superb!

Tips for future travelers

You need a car. It’s a bit isolated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Colle Etrusco Salivolpi

Castellina in Chianti

Very pretty location and charming facade of the buildings. The room was a bit small and situated above the breakfast kitchen. The staff were really nice and helpful and the town was nice.

Tips for future travelers

Book the higher end room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Corso Boutique Luxury Rooms

Rome

Super gorgeous hotel! A hidden gem in the heart of the city. Luxurious and funky. The staff were wonderful! Friendly, kind and super helpful.

Tips for future travelers

Be aware that it’s in a pedestrianised area. However, I think taxis are allowed to drop off and pick up, even if they are reluctant. Check with the lovely staff for local restaurant recommendations, they are happy to book for you.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

So kind and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aquadulci Hotel

Domus de Maria

Superb hotel only metres from an amazing beach!! The staff are so attentive and take care of your every need. Its so tranquil, comfortable and relaxing.

Tips for future travelers

Unless you’re happy to stay put and relax at the beach or by the pool, you would benefit from having a car to go exploring.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Florence guided stroll with Accademia visit (small group)

Florence

Florinda, our guide was so passionate, knowledgeable and intelligent. We really enjoyed all the stories and having an up close experience around Florence.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Siena guided walk - private guide

Italy

Alessia was very passionate and informative. We really enjoyed her stories and the fact it was a private tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Montepulciano wine tasting

Italy

We were slightly late as we weren’t sure where to meet after we were dropped off by our driver. The staff were accommodating and we were able to do the tasting first, followed by a tour of the cellar, so it all worked out.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was really nice and stopped off for some photos of picturesque places.

Transport

Pienza time at your leisure

Italy

Beautiful town, so picturesque and lovely.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine tasting in Tuscany countryside (1 winery)

Italy

Beautiful organic boutique winery. Gorgeous surroundings and lovely staff and tour. The wine is delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Rome Riding a Vespa - with driver

Rome

Luca is an absolute legend!! His knowledge and dry sense of humour is such a treat. You feel completely safe with him and we had such fun!!! Highly recommend!!

Quality of Experience

Luca is the best and he bought us yummy gelato

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Really safe and fun

Transport

As above